Flushing device for outboard motors

Abstract

A flushing device (12) is provided to supply water to an inlet (18) provided on the bottom of the anti-ventilation plate (14) of an outboard motor. The flushing device (12) uses a mounting bracket (22) to hold a resilient cup (20) compressed in place over the water inlet (18). A hose connector (24) allows the cup (20) to be connected to a water supply.

I claim: 
     
       1. A flushing device for supplying water to a cooling water inlet opening in the bottom surface of a generally horizontal planar element fixed above the propeller shaft of an outboard motor, said device comprising: (A) a generally cup shaped resilient sealing element for covering the cooling water inlet opening, said sealing element including a water passage for supplying water to said water inlet and   (B) a unitary mounting bracket formed from a single strip of sheet metal and attached to said resilient sealing element for holding said resilient sealing element compressed against said bottom surface, said mounting bracket including two projections on opposite ends of said strip for engaging an upper surface of said planar element on opposite sides, said mounting bracket including projections for extending into the region normally occupied by a propeller mounted on said propeller shaft.   
     
     
       2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein a hole is provided through said strip for attaching said resilient sealing element to said mounting bracket. 
     
     
       3. The device defined in claim 2 wherein said mounting bracket includes a portion generally positioned below said planar element of said outboard motor. 
     
     
       4. The device defined in claim 2 wherein said resilient sealing element includes a central cylindrical portion extending through said hole in said mounting bracket for attachment to said mounting bracket. 
     
     
       5. The device defined in claim 4 wherein said water passage extends through said central cylindrical portion of said resilient sealing element.